Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interactive verification of architectural design patterns in FACTum

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Formal Aspects of Computing

Abstract

Architectural design patterns (ADPs) are architectural solutions to common architectural design problems. They are an important concept in software architectures used for the design and analysis of architectures. An ADP usually constrains the design of an architecture and, in turn, guarantees some desired properties for architectures implementing it. Sometimes, however, the constraints imposed by an ADP do not lead to the claimed guarantee. Thus, applying such patterns for the design of architectures might result in architectures which do not fulfill their intended requirements. To address this problem, we propose an approach for the verification of ADPs, based on interactive theorem proving. To this end, we introduce a model for dynamic architectures and a language for the specification of ADPs over this model. Moreover, we propose a framework for the interactive verification of such specifications based on Isabelle/HOL. In addition we describe an algorithm to map a specifi cation to a corresponding Isabelle/HOL theory over our framework. To evaluate the approach, we implement it in Eclipse/EMF and use it for the verification of four ADPs: variants of the Singleton, the Publisher-Subscriber, the Blackboard pattern, and a pattern for Blockchain architectures. With our approach we complement traditional approaches for the verification of architectures, which are usually based on automatic verification techniques such as model checking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allen, R., Douence, R., Garlan, D.: Specifying and analyzing dynamic software architectures. In: Egidio, A. (ed.) Fundamental approaches to software engineering. Lecture notes in computer science, vol. 1382, pp. 21–37. Springer, Berlin (1998)

  2. Allen, R.J.: A formal approach to software architecture. Technical report, DTIC Document (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Aguirre N, Maibaum T (2002) Reasoning about reconfigurable object-based systems in a temporal logic setting. In: Proceedings of IDPT

  4. Aguirre N, Maibaum T (2002) A temporal logic approach to the specification of reconfigurable component-based systems. In: Automated software engineering. IEEE, pp 271–274

  5. Arbab, F.: Reo: a channel-based coordination model for component composition. Math Struct Comput Sci 14(03), 329–366 (2004)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Ballarin, C.: Locales and locale expressions in isabelle/isar. Lect Notes Comput Sci 3085, 34–50 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bertot, Y., Castéran, P.: Interactive theorem proving and program development: Coq'Art: the calculus of inductive constructions. Springer, Berlin (2013)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. Bass, L., Clements, P., Kazman, R.: Software architecture in practice. Addison-Wesley, Boston (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bergner K (1996) Spezifikation großer Objektgeflechte mit Komponentendiagrammen. Ph.D. thesis, Technische Universität München

  10. Bettini, L.: Implementing domain-specific languages with Xtext and Xtend. Packt Publishing Ltd, Birmingham (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Broy M, Facchi C, Grosu R et al (1993) The requirement and design specification language spectrum – an informal introduction. Technical report, Technische Universität München

  12. Blanchette JC, Hölzl J, Lochbihler A, Panny L, Popescu A, Traytel D (2014) Truly modular (co) datatypes for isabelle/hol. In: International conference on interactive theorem proving. Springer, pp 93–110

  13. Bergstra, J.A., Klop, J.W.: Algebra of communicating processes. CWI Monograph Ser 3, 89–138 (1986)

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  14. Buschmann, F., Meunier, R., Rohnert, H., Sommerlad, P., Stal, M.: Pattern-oriented software architecture: a system of patterns. Wiley, West Sussex (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Broy, M.: Algebraic specification of reactive systems. Algebraic methodology and software technology, pp. 487–503. Springer, Berlin (1996)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Broy, M.: A logical basis for component-oriented software and systems engineering. Comput J 53(10), 1758–1782 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Broy M (2014) A model of dynamic systems. In: Saddek B, Yassine L, Axel L (eds) From programs to systems. The systems perspective in computing, volume 8415 of Lecture notes in computer science, pp 39–53. Springer, Berlin

  18. Broy, M., Stolen, K.: Specification and development of interactive systems: focus on streams, interfaces, and refinement. Springer, Berlin (2001)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  19. Baier, C., Sirjani, M., Arbab, F., Rutten, J.: Modeling component connectors in reo by constraint automata. Sci Comput Program 61(2), 75–113 (2006)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  20. Castro PF, Aguirre NM, Pombo CGL, Maibaum TSE (2010) Towards managing dynamic reconfiguration of software systems in a categorical setting. In: Lecture notes in computer science. Springer, pp 306–321

  21. Cimatti, A., Clarke, E., Giunchiglia, F., Roveri, M.: Nusmv: a new symbolic model checker. Int J Softw Tools Technol Trans 2(4), 410–425 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Canal C, Cámara J, Salaün G (2012) Structural reconfiguration of systems under behavioral adaptation. Sci Comput Program 78(1):46–64. Special Section: Formal Aspects of Component Software (FACS'09)

  23. Chandy, K.M.: Parallel program design. Springer, Berlin (1989)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  24. Dashofy EM, Van der Hoek A, Taylor RN (2001) A highly-extensible, xml-based architecture description language. In: Working IEEE/IFIP conference on software architecture, 2001. Proceedings, pp 103–112. IEEE

  25. Feiler PH, Lewis BA, Vestal S (2006) The sae architecture analysis & design language (aadl) a standard for engineering performance critical systems. In: Computer aided control system design, control applications, intelligent control. IEEE, pp 1206–1211

  26. Fiadeiro, J.L., Maibaum, T.: Categorical semantics of parallel program design. Sci Comput Program 28(2–3), 111–138 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Fensel D, Schnogge A (November 1997) Using kiv to specify and verify architectures of knowledge-based systems. In: Automated software engineering, pp 71–80

  28. Garlan D (2003) Formal modeling and analysis of software architecture: components, connectors, and events. In: Formal methods for software architectures, pp 1–24. Springer

  29. Gibbons, J., Hutton, G.: Proof methods for corecursive programs. Fundam Inf 66, 353–366 (2005)

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  30. Gamma, E., Helm, R., Johnson, R., Vlissides, J.: Design patterns: elements of reusable object-oriented software. Addison-Wesley, New York (1994)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  31. Göthel T, Jähnig N, Seif S (2017) Refinement-based modelling and verification of design patterns for self-adaptive systems. In: International conference on formal engineering methods. Springer, pp 157–173

  32. Gidey HK, Marmsoler D (2018) FACTum studio. https://habtom.github.io/factum/. Accessed 19 July 2019

  33. Gidey HK, Marmsoler D, Eckhardt J (April 2017) Grounded architectures: using grounded theory for the design of software architectures. In: 2017 IEEE international conference on software architecture workshops (ICSAW), pp 141–148

  34. Garlan, D., Monroe, R.T., Wile, D.: ACME: architectural description of component-based systems. Found Component Based Syst 68, 47–68 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gorlick MM, Razouk RR (1991) Using weaves for software construction and analysis. In: Les B, David RB, Koji T (eds) Proceedings of the 13th international conference on software engineering, Austin, TX, USA, 13-17 May 1991. IEEE Computer Society, pp 23–34

  36. Gibson-Robinson T, Armstrong P, Boulgakov A, Roscoe AW (2014) Fdr3—a modern refinement checker for csp. In: International conference on tools and algorithms for the construction and analysis of systems. Springer, pp 187–201

  37. Hölzl F, Feilkas M (2010) Autofocus 3: a scientific tool prototype for model-based development of component-based, reactive, distributed systems. In: Proceedings of the 2007 international Dagstuhl conference on model-based engineering of embedded real-time systems, MBEERTS'07, Berlin, Heidelberg. Springer, pp 317–322

  38. Hoare, C.A.R.: Communicating sequential processes. Commun ACM 21(8), 666–677 (1978)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Jackson, D.: Alloy: a lightweight object modelling notation. ACM Trans Softw Eng Methodol (TOSEM) 11(2), 256–290 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Jacobs, B., Rutten, J.: A tutorial on (co)algebras and (co)induction. EATCS Bull 62, 62–222 (1997)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  41. Kim JS, Garlan D (2006) Analyzing architectural styles with alloy. In: Proceedings of the ISSTA 2006 workshop on Role of software architecture for testing and analysis. ACM, pp 70–80

  42. Klein MH, Kazman R, Bass L, Carriere J, Barbacci M, Lipson H (1999) Attribute-based architecture styles. In: Software architecture. Springer, pp 225–243

  43. Krause C, Maraikar Z, Lazovik A, Arbab F (2011) Modeling dynamic reconfigurations in reo using high-level replacement systems. Sci Comput Program 76(1):23–36. Selected papers from the 6th international workshop on the foundations of coordination languages and software architectures

  44. Kiayias A, Russell A, David B, Oliynykov R (2017) Ouroboros: a provably secure proof-of-stake blockchain protocol. In: Annual international cryptology conference. Springer, pp 357–388

  45. Luckham, D.C., Kenney, J.J., Augustin, L.M., Vera, J., Bryan, D., Mann, W.: Specification and analysis of system architecture using rapide. IEEE Trans Softw Eng 21(4), 336–354 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Laroussinie F, Meyer A, Petonnet E (2010) Counting LTL. In: 2010 17th international symposium on temporal representation and reasoning. IEEE

  47. Lochbihler A (2010) Coinduction. The archive of formal proofs. http://afp.sourceforge.net/entries/Coinductive.shtml.Accessed 19 July 2019

  48. Li, Y., Sun, M.: Modeling and analysis of component connectors in coq. In: Fiadeiro, J.L., Liu, Z., Xue, J. (eds.) Formal aspects of component software–10th international symposium, FACS 2013, Nanchang, China, 27–29 Oct 2013, Revised selected papers. Lecture notes in computer science, vol. 8348, pp. 273–290. Springer (2013)

  49. Marmsoler D (2010) Applying the scientific method in the definition and analysis of a new architectural style. Master's thesis, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen

  50. Marmsoler D (2017) Dynamic architectures. Archive of formal proofs. http://isa-afp.org/entries/DynamicArchitectures.html. Formal proof development. Accessed 19 July 2019

  51. Marmsoler, D.: Towards a calculus for dynamic architectures. In: Van Hung, D., Kapur, D. (eds.) Theoretical aspects of computing–ICTAC 2017–14th international colloquium, Hanoi, Vietnam, 23–27 Oct 2017, Proceedings. Lecture notes in computer science, vol. 10580, pp. 79–99. Springer (2017)

  52. Marmsoler D (2018) A framework for interactive verification of architectural design patterns in isabelle/hol. In: The 20th international conference on formal engineering methods, ICFEM 2018, Proceedings

  53. Marmsoler D (2018) A theory of architectural design patterns. Archive of formal proofs. http://isa-afp.org/entries/Architectural_Design_Patterns.html. Formal proof development

  54. Mak JKH, Choy CST, Lun DPK (2004) Precise modeling of design patterns in uml. In: Software engineering. IEEE, pp 252–261

  55. Marmsoler D, Degenhardt S (2017) Verifying patterns of dynamic architectures using model checking. In: Proceedings international workshop on formal engineering approaches to software components and architectures, FESCA@ETAPS 2017, Uppsala, Sweden, 22nd April 2017, pp 16–30

  56. Marmsoler, D., Gleirscher, M.: On activation, connection, and behavior in dynamic architectures. Sci Ann Comput Sci 26(2), 187–248 (2016)

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  57. Marmsoler D, Gleirscher M (2016) Specifying properties of dynamic architectures using configuration traces. In: International colloquium on theoretical aspects of computing. Springer, pp 235–254

  58. Marmsoler D, Gidey HK (2018) FACTum Studio: a tool for the axiomatic specification and verification of architectural design patterns. In: Formal aspects of component software—FACS 2018—15th international conference, Proceedings

  59. Milner, R.: Communicating and mobile systems: the \(\pi \)-calculus. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  60. Magee J, Kramer J (1996) Dynamic structure in software architectures. In: Garlan D (ed) SIGSOFT'96, Proceedings of the fourth ACM SIGSOFT symposium on foundations of software engineering, San Francisco, California, USA, 16–18 Oct 1996. ACM, pp 3–14

  61. Manna, Z., Pnueli, A.: The temporal logic of reactive and concurrent systems. Springer, New York (1992)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  62. Nakamoto S (2008) Bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system

  63. Nipkow, T., Paulson, L.C., Wenzel, M.: Isabelle/HOL: a proof assistant for higher-order logic, vol. 2283. Springer, Berlin (2002)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  64. Oquendo, F.: \(\pi \)-adl: an architecture description language based on the higher-order typed \(\pi \)-calculus for specifying dynamic and mobile software architectures. ACM SIGSOFT Softw Eng Notes 29(3), 1–14 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  65. Rausch A (2001) Componentware. Dissertation, Technische Universität München, München

  66. Reif W (1995) The kiv-approach to software verification. In: KORSO: methods, languages, and tools for the construction of correct software, pp 339–368

  67. Rumbaugh, J., Jacobson, I., Booch, G.: The unified modeling language reference manual. Pearson Higher Education, New York (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  68. Sanchez, A., Barbosa, L.S., Riesco, D.: Bigraphical modelling of architectural patterns. In: Arbab, F., Ölveczky, P.C. (eds.) Formal aspects of component software, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 313–330. Springer, Berlin (2012)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  69. Shaw, M., Garlan, D.: Software architecture: perspectives on an emerging discipline, vol. 1. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1996)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  70. Soundarajan N, Hallstrom JO (2004) Responsibilities and rewards: specifying design patterns. In: Software engineering. IEEE, pp 666–675

  71. Sanchez, A., Madeira, A., Barbosa, L.S.: On the verification of architectural reconfigurations. Comput Lang Syst Struct 44, 218–237 (2015)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  72. Spichkova M (2007) Specification and seamless verification of embedded real-time systems: FOCUS on Isabelle. Ph.D. thesis, Technical University Munich, Germany

  73. Taylor, R.N., Medvidovic, N., Dashofy, E.M.: Software architecture: foundations, theory, and practice. Wiley, Hoboken (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  74. TypeFox and Obeo (2017) Xtext/sirius—integration the main use-cases. https://goo.gl/8bcWJc

  75. van Ommering, R.C., van der Linden, F., Kramer, J., Magee, J.: The koala component model for consumer electronics software. IEEE Comput 33(3), 78–85 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Wenzel M et al (2004) The isabelle/isar reference manual

  77. Wenzel, M.: Isabelle/isar–a generic framework for human-readable proof documents. From Insight to Proof-Festschrift in Honour of Andrzej Trybulec 10(23), 277–298 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  78. Wermelinger M, Fiadeiro JL (2002) A graph transformation approach to software architecture reconfiguration. Sci Comput Program 44(2):133 – 155. Special Issue on Applications of Graph Transformations (GRATRA 2000)

  79. Wirsing, M.: Algebraic specification. In: van Leeuwen, J. (ed.) Handbook of theoretical computer science, vol. B, pp. 675–788. MIT Press, Cambridge (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  80. Wermelinger M, Lopes A, Fiadeiro JL (2001) A graph based architectural (re)configuration language. In: Software engineering notes, vol 26. ACM, pp 21–32

  81. Wong S, Sun J, Warren I, Sun J (2008) A scalable approach to multi-style architectural modeling and verification. In: Engineering of complex computer systems. IEEE, pp 25–34

  82. Zdun U, Avgeriou P (2005) Modeling architectural patterns using architectural primitives. In: Johnson RE, Gabriel RP (eds) Proceedings of the 20th annual ACM SIGPLAN conference on object-oriented programming, systems, languages, and applications, OOPSLA 2005, 16–20 Oct 2005, San Diego, CA, USA, pp 133–146. ACM

  83. Zhang J, Liu Y, Sun J, Dong JS, Sun J (2012) Model checking software architecture design. In: High-assurance systems engineering. IEEE, pp 193–200

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Manfred Broy and the anonymous reviewers of FASE 2018 and Formal Aspects of Computing for their comments and helpful suggestions on earlier versions of this paper. Moreover, we would like to thank Dominik Ascher and Sebastian Wilzbach for their valuable support on Eclipse/EMF. The work was partially funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under grant number “01Is16043A” and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) under grant number “0325811A”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technische Universität München, Institut für Informatik – Lehrstuhl IV (I4), Boltzmannstr. 3, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany

    Diego Marmsoler & Habtom Kashay Gidey

Authors
  1. Diego Marmsoler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Habtom Kashay Gidey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diego Marmsoler.

Additional information

Alessandra Russo, Andy Schuerr, and Heike Wehrheim

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Marmsoler, D., Gidey, H.K. Interactive verification of architectural design patterns in FACTum. Form Asp Comp 31, 541–610 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00165-019-00488-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00165-019-00488-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation